Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-07-31
WHEEIIEG PERSONALS
AN A%ER0NAUT'S STORY.
Fighting tor Life with n Maniac 10000 Feet
Above the Earth-A Desperate Struggle
Tor the Mastery.

alone.
Wherever had made ~ascensicns, al,
though in widely different place | had
always noticed among the spectators a
young man whose unusual pallOr and
deep.sunken, great eyes had impressed me.
He was greatly interested in my undertake
my, and pressed near to ollcr any slight
assistance. | had become so used to his
presence that Al +. ! ~involuntarily looked
around for him rs called to my men To
make ready. The unknown stood close by
the barrier, paler aud more haggard than
ever. ! sprang into the boat and ordered
the rope to be cut.
At the same moment | saw 4 movement
among the spectators, but did not heed II,
aS was arranging some things in the bot
tom OF the boat, and was STOPPING oyer and
busy when the quickly-rising balloon was
high in tine air. Great was my astOnish-
mcnt when | looked up and saw that
strange looking maj with me.
"Hour Ohcdirnt servant, sir said he
very politely.
"By what right are you here | asked
Indignantly.
"You could not escape me; therefore |
have II right to I've here, - he said.
pcrpltNed by this answer vas silent.
UntrOuhlrd 10y amaGrmenL he went On.
AN tins way wc shall never 20 up. ~
With these words he seized two BAGS of
ballast aud east them ont.
Sir" | cried, anprily catching hisarm.
IL cannot allow that The barometer
showed me that the balloon had risen two
Thousand feet. I'VE must descend, ~ said
|, those dark clouds darkcning around
Us. aud growing darker and heavier in the
south, warns ~ of a thunder storm
"No," he cried, I'VE must dash through
the clouds; the lightning shall flash far be-
low ms, 80 and once more two bays Of bal
last flew overheard. ! struggled to hold
him back, hut he pushed me to the floor
with one hand, while he carried ont his
purpose with the other, saying: 81 am
very sorry. lint ! SEE you do not under
stand the thing, 81 | must take the whole
control. Now, don't Interfere with me
again
He continued throwing overheard bag
after bag Of ballast. holding me FIRMLY
back rs q as | tried to prevent his ac-
lions. saw had To deal with Il mad
man, far ms superior in physical strength,
81 ! resolved to try cunning. / tired Ia
interest him in conversation while sIyly
pulled the valve-ropc and hoped to bring
The balloon down before he observed or
course.
Suddenly he said: "You have opened
the valve in spite ofmy orders dropped
the string. ~'Fortunatrly, - he continued,
while he flung some bags over the side,
I'VE have yet 2O0 pounds of ballast. ! al
lowed YOU to open the valve because the
gas threatened to burst the balloon, but
don't you do it again. The clouds sailed
under IL in q glittering stream, on which
the balloon cast a deep shadow. Thunder
rumbled far below.
Once more he lightened the balloon 10y
30 pounds, and it shot upward like an ar
row. The deliriWu of my uncomfortable
companion seemed to increase in proper
ton to our distance from the earth.
Higher, higher You need not know
more
With these words he flung the compass
out. / was helpless ~ Il child before the
mailman. To my urgent eutreatles he
only cried: 81 am out Of patience with
Won. Now YOU shall 10 longer know
whether we are going up or down. ~
Then he threw the barometer and halt the
remaining ballast after the compass. Even
higher ro-cthe balloon; my heart throhbed
~ if it would burst; blood flowed from
nv nose and mouth.
Desperation gave me strength. ! strug-
glcd with him, hut had 10 yield. lie
threw me to the floor, and holding me
there, he took a knife from his pocket aud
cut Il rope.
With a shrek | flew TO the end OF tine
boat, instinctively clung TO the only re-
naming rope, and, overwhelmed by hor-
ror, closed my eyes.
After a long pause ! opened them and
found myself alone upon the hoat-alone,
10000 feet above the earth. My cOmpan-
ion had vanished. ! rose still higher,
higher, rushing 50 swiftly through the air
that every hrcnth i drew was the keenest
torture. A sharp frost made my teeth
chatter, but suddenly a suttocating heat
took the place ofthc cold. | found myself
in tie middle Of u glowing, fiery cloud,
and heard a terrific report the gas had
burst from its prison.
The balloon whirled with terrible Tapi-
dity as 1t co~llapsed-an ugly, tormlcss
mass.
The descent seemed long As | mrared
the earth saw | was within two miles ut
the ocean and feared the wind would drive
me there. Daring the whole Journey down
| had been standing on the end OF the
boat, coyul-iyely c]Iinginr To the rope. A
violent lUrch tore it from my hold and
hurled me backward. | TELL not, rs ! cN-
pertci. INTO space, but in the soft grIss of
a meadow. WAS nearer the ground than
lcouId in my unfortunate position Judge
Tn" anchor, trailing along, had luckily
caught fast. | had scarcely dropp d before
the balloon. now ~unhurirnrd, sailed swift
" on over the sea. i miracle saved me
from the most awful peril my exciting lie
ever brought me. Nothing WAS ever heard
OF my unhappy companion.